GM in the past, Walmart today: Huge companies that were/are barometers of the nations' economy. When GM goes bankrupt, the repercussions are going to be felt all across the country.

GM (and most recently Walmart) complain that the workforce is obese and sickly ..
Guess what ? They are microcosms of the nation. I personally think GM and Walmart stink and do not shop at either one, but it is imprudent to ignore them. Their realities are your realities.

R2-E2, 2G Prius.
Highway/City/Husband/Wife MPG: 56.5, as of 12/2005, 26K miles

Jac Nasser, Ford President: "We are planning to launch a hybrid version of
this car [P2000] within this year [1998]. We will also make FCEV available in
2004."